THE Bishop of Blackburn has called on people to snub traditional Easter eggs.

Rt Rev Nicholas Reade said none of the Easter eggs sold in Britain every year had a Christian message.

And he said he was shocked by the gap between a multi-million pound industry and the Christian events that it celebrated.

He has now written to all 250 Anglican clergy and 300 Church of England schools in Lancashire to urge support for a national campaign for The Real Easter Egg — 'the only one to mention Jesus on the box'.

He said: “This project, I believe, makes a significant contribution to a lost opportunity in Christian mission.

"The great festival of Our Lord's resurrection, though widely and profitably celebrated in the confectionary industry, has no direct connection with its most prominent commercial symbol, the Easter egg.

“Fortunately, this is all set to change, but it needs the help of many thousands of Christians to make it happen.”

The Real Easter Egg scheme is seeking orders by December 1.

Profits from sales will help support development projects in some of the poorest regions of the world through the charity Traidcraft Exchange.

The Bishop said. “With one of the largest concentrations of church schools in the country, I hope the Blackburn Diocese will be among those placing the largest orders.”

He also appealed to Lancashire supermarkets to stock the new product.

The Real Easter Egg has been developed by the Manchester-based The Meaningful Chocolate Company, in consultation with a number of churches and Church of England dioceses.